by David Brenneman
"Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:34-43
Long long ago for me, these facts about my Savior were explained to me. I was around 7 at the time. I knew and understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior, who was Christ the Lord. I knew that there was nothing that I could do on my own to be right before God. It wasn't me who did anything to save me. I heard His call and He reached out and did everything that I couldn't do.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;" Ephesians 2:8.
Grace. The truest definition is "unmerited favor". Getting something we don't deserve. We have nothing to offer in exchange for our soul. There's nothing we could possibly give to cover our own sins.
This comes hand-in-hand with mercy...our not getting what we do deserve for breaking God's laws. We are born in sin and we need His God-given perfect sacrifice to deal with this.
What we receive in exchange is a life we never could or would see otherwise. We are adopted into the family of God. We have all our sins, past, present and future dealt with. He promises to be faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Removing them as far as the east is from the west.
So no, I have not a remembrance of a life before Jesus. But for sure my life has never been the same as it would have been.
Throughout my life there's been countless examples of His loving hands turning my life into something worth living. He's brought me through dangers that by any other means would have been impossible. He's provided in ways that I never could have considered. When it comes to battles with those whom have wronged me, He's fought them on my behalf. He is a promise keeper.
Jesus is very real and is very much open to saving more people. He said that whomever comes to Him in faith by no means would He ever cast out.
What does it take? Read it here:
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
First you have to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior...just as I had to do.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
Next is to acknowledge His truth about sin. That the Bible is clear that what we deserve for sin is death.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love for us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
And in conclusion you already just read what Romans 10 says.
My Dear Reader the gift of eternal life is free. Jesus paid it all. He wants to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. But you have to ask Him to do that.
I really like this portion of a story about a man who believed...his daily prayer that was the beginning of his life in Christ.
"I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS BEN, JUST CHECKING IN TODAY."
You too can pray such a prayer after you receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
Until you do, there's a great divide between you and God that cannot be crossed without going through the cross of Jesus Christ. Only through the finished work of Jesus on the cross can we come into the presence of God.
Jesus loves you. When He looked forward to the cross He thought of you. When He was cruelly beaten and scourged, He thought of you. When He was being nailed to that cross, He thought of you. When He arose from the dead, He was ready to welcome you into His family, having done it all to make it possible to join Him where He is.
Scripture further says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Without the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone we cannot please God.
What's holding you back? Questions yet you may still have?
Jesus said you must come as a child does. Look upon Him who died and arose again and simply believe that that is and was for you. Believe that He said it about you and claim it for yourself.
You can text the word "Jesus" to (330) 264-9459 and you will be connected with someone who will talk to you about this salvation in Christ that you have read about today.
Jesus is waiting with open arms for all who would come to Him to be saved. No matter what the baggage is we bring, He will deal with it. No matter how sinful we feel He will heal it. No matter what...He's ready to save.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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